Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 89,524 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Pearl Crescent: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pearl Crescent
The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a butterfly of North America. It is found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada, in particular Ontario. Its habitat is open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, open pine woods. Its pattern is quite variable. Males usually have black antenna knobs. Its upperside is orange with black borders; postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pearl Crescent by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 17,266 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Ohio | 8,369 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Virginia | 6,542 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Illinois | 6,314 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Maryland | 6,216 | September | Apr–Oct |
| North Carolina | 4,661 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 3,824 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Florida | 2,970 | April | Feb–Oct |
| Tennessee | 2,678 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 2,576 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Georgia | 2,525 | June | Apr–Oct |
| New York | 2,297 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 2,228 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Kentucky | 1,981 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 1,975 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Louisiana | 1,946 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 1,667 | July | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 1,597 | September | Apr–Oct |
| New Jersey | 1,519 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 1,500 | August | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 1,394 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Kansas | 1,035 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Iowa | 768 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Mississippi | 700 | July | Mar–Nov |
| Connecticut | 605 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Delaware | 604 | September | May–Oct |
| Nebraska | 587 | August | May–Oct |
| West Virginia | 582 | August | May–Sep |
| Michigan | 459 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 398 | August | May–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 293 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Vermont | 266 | July | May–Sep |
| Minnesota | 253 | July | May–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 177 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 170 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Colorado | 138 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maine | 122 | July | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 103 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Arizona | 99 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 92 | July | May–Sep |
| North Dakota | 19 | September | Jun–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pearl Crescent?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Pearl Crescent most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Ohio, Virginia.